Modern Romance (English)

People today have more romantic options than at any point in human history, and thanks to social media, smartphones and online dating, our abilities to conned with these options are staggering. Yet we also...Read more

People today have more romantic options than at any point in human history, and thanks to social media, smartphones and online dating, our abilities to conned with these options are staggering. Yet we also have to face new and absurd dilemmas, such as what to think when someone doesn't reply to your text but has time to post a photo of a pizza on Instagram. But this transformation of our romantic lives cannot be explained by technology alone. Whereas once most people would find a decent person who probably lived in their neighbourhood and many by the age of 23, today we spend years of our lives on a quest to find our soulmate. While Ansari has long aimed his comedic insight at modem relationships, here he teamed up with award-winning sociologist Eric Klinenberg to research dating cultures from Tokyo to Buenos Aires to Paris, crunch the quantitative data and interview some of the world's leading social scientists. The result is an unforgettable tour of the romantic landscape.Read less

About the author: Aziz Ansari

AZIZ ANSARI is a stand-up comedian and an actor who is on his fourth major stand-up tour. His last special, "Buried Alive," premiered on Netflix in 2013.... Read more

AZIZ ANSARI is a stand-up comedian and an actor who is on his fourth major stand-up tour. His last special, "Buried Alive," premiered on Netflix in 2013. He currently stars as Tom Haverford on the Emmy-nominated comedy Parks and Recreation with Amy Poehler and other great people. He has appeared in several films as well, including This Is the End, Funny People, and 30 Minutes or Less. ERIC KLINENBERG is a professor of sociology at NYU. He is the author of Going Solo) and has contributed to The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and This American Life.Read less

Review:

Ansari has pulled it off: a thinky book that's funny, too Esquire Always-hilarious Aziz Ansari proves you can be smart and funny at the same time. Not only did I laugh my ass off, I really learned...Read more

Ansari has pulled it off: a thinky book that's funny, too Esquire Always-hilarious Aziz Ansari proves you can be smart and funny at the same time. Not only did I laugh my ass off, I really learned stuff. Where was this book when I was 22 years old? -- Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics Entertaining and illuminating... It's refreshing to hear a modern male voice on the subject of love and sex -- Barbara Ellen Observer Modern Romance is just like Aziz Ansari himself-charming, thoughtful, reasonable, and able to distill the madness of the world into something both sane and wildly funny Dave Eggers Laughing is my second least-favorite thing in the world after thinking. This book was torture. Not a page passed without an unwanted eruption of giggles or insight. Aziz is funny as hell, and smart as shit -- Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Eating Animals Ansari is perfectly positioned to recast himself as our modern dating guru ... In contrast to the sex-obsessed PUAs and the wedding-crazy dating gurus, Ansari approaches relationships like an actual human being Slate Unlike the sortabiographies of his peers, or the cash-in Christmas toilet books so big with British comedians, Ansari has gone academic... It's insightful, and built to resonate with anyone ever left wondering why [someone] never texted back -- Nosheen Iqbal Guardian Thought-provoking... a light-hearted tour through the minefield of dating in the age of the smartphone -- Helen Lewis Guardian Riotously funny... a zingy and satisfying read. It will make you laugh, nod in agreement and ultimately feel better that you are not alone in trying to navigate the uncertain world of romance in the 21st century -- Katie Harrington Irish Examiner So refreshing Evening Standard Ansari and Klinenberg elegantly capture the entirely new ways that singles communicate, court, and find love today. Modern Romance is a captivating read, with deep insight into history, science, and culture, and loads of wit and charm. Along the way, you may even collect some valuable tips for finding a soul mate -- Helen Fisher, Senior Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute; author of Why Him? Why Her? An unexpectedly serious work about the challenges and pitfalls of looking for love in the Digital Age Vanity Fair Eye-opening... The most thorough examination of dating in 2015... Unlike many of the books penned by comedians these days, [Modern Romance] is a real book with real science and very real, extensive research in it Salon It's the voices that will have you reading this remarkable book in one sitting! The voices of old people who married someone who lived in their apartment building or the building next door and the voices of the young people who check out hundreds of romantic possibilities a night, with so much choice that choice becomes impossible. And then there is the voice of Ansari himself, funny, of course, but also deeply compassionate. This book defines serious fun -- Sherry Turkle, Abby Rockefeller Mauze Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and author of Alone Together and Reclaiming Conversation A sprightly, easygoing hybrid of fact, observation, advice and comedy -- Sarah Lyall The New York Times It's hard to think of another celebrity book that also feels like breaking news... Aside from the jokes, the science of Modern Romance holds water, and is absolutely fascinating The AV Club A lively look at love, marriage and the oddities of mating in the 21st century Economist Full of interesting facts and fun details and illustrations, Modern Romance is an engaging and very funny read for anyone who has ever been in love - or planning to be -- Alice Charles Huffington PostRead less